Two McClendons[1] were in Lawrence Co TN at the same time as Frances (McClendon) Pulliam and her daughter Leatha (or Louvina) Merrick Pulliam. The older moved to Missouri and lived not too far from the Alvises and Pulliams, while the younger was in a document connected with the Pulliam, Alvis, and Hail families. It seems likely Bryan, the older man, was Frances’s father.

Bryan McClendon was probably this man: 1800 Fayetteville, Anson Co NC, Bryan McLendon: 10100/10101.[4] Nathan McClendon has not been found before the Lawrence County records.

By 1830, Bryant McClendon had moved to Missouri, where he was in Crawford Co MO, p 175, Bryan McClendon: 00111001/0002, the same county as his probable granddaughter Leatha (Pulliam) Alvis and her husband, who were on page 180. John “Mcklen” on page 177 may have been one or more of the sons of Bryant: 000121/0.

On 23 Dec 1832, Crawford Co MO, Bryan McClendon was married to Elizabeth Howard. His first wife is totally unknown to me.

In 1840 Bryan was in 1840 Buchanan Co MO: 000000001/00100001, next to Jesse McLendon: 10001/0001. In 1850 Andrew Co MO, 75 NC with Elizabeth, 65 NC. He was a cooper.

The Lawrence Co genweb site has the following, taken from Goodspeed’s History of Tennessee, 1886[5]: Lawrence County was established by an act of the General Assembly in 1817, but was not formally organized until the first Monday in May, 1818. The county was cut off from “the territory south of Maury and west of Giles,” and embraced a much larger area formerly than now. It has been reduced from time to time. The same act which ordered the new county. Also ordered that it should be called Lawrence, in honor, it is supposed, of Commodore Lawrence, of the United States Navy. The act futher provided for the laying out of the county seat. David Crockett, Henry Sharp, Maxmilian H. Buchanan, and John Beeler were selected to lay out the county and to select a county seat. Duncan McIntyre surveyed and marked the county boundaries, for which he was allowed the sum $35. The justices selected by the legislature were Henry Day, Mansil Crisp, John Hillhouse, Pollard Wisdom, Richard Hill, Thomas Welch, Willis Hammond, Daniel Beeler, Samuel D. Poteet, Henry Sharp, Phillip Chromister, Nathan McClendon, David Crockett,[6] Robert Chaffin, Robert Newton, and Thomas Acher. The other officers appointed were Daniel Beeler, chairman; M.H. Buchanan, clerk; Luke Grimes, sheriff; Alexander Miller, register; George Gresham, ranger; Solomon P. Cunningham, coroner.

The first settlements made in the county were on Big Buffalo River, near Pennington’s old mill site, near the crossing of that stream by the Columbia & Wayneboro Turnpike, in 1815. The settlers came chiefly from North Carolina. Among them were Jacob Pennington… The first watermill in the county was built in 1816 by Moses Pennington: a distillery was also built near the mill–the first in the county. The Primitive Baptists built the first church in 1817, near where Henryville was afterward built, of which church the Rev. John Hunter was the first minister. The first school was taught in the above church in 1817. The pioneers on Beeler Fork were John Beeler…. On Middle Fork were Bailey Alford, Samuel McLean, William Thomas, John Welch, John Chambers, J.E. Edmiston, Warren Mason, David Crockett…. On Shoal Creek and vicinity were Harlan Paine…. On Sugar Creek and vicinity there settled Jacob Brashers…. On Chism Fork of Shoal Creek were Wm. Tucker…. On Knob Creek were Pollard Wisdom…. In different parts of the county there were the Alexanders, Gaswells, Higgs, Phenixes, Lindseys, McConnells, Kilburns, Cunninghams, Stringhams, McClindens, Davises, Joneses, Grays, Tutnells, Alcorns, Hills, Haynes, Gambells, McCains, Sharps, McKinneys , Mitchells, Walkers, Whartons, Campbells, Fosters, Stricklands, Morgans, Oxfords, Fallses, Allsops, Poteets and Pennicuffs.

The Pulaski County Democrat, P.O. Box 578, Waynesville, MO 65583, October 8, 1981, “Musgrave Family” contains a reference to Nathan McClendon in an article about the Musgraves and Davy Crockett: In confirmation of Goodspeed’s History of Lawrence County, we have a photostat of a deed of gift given Bennett Musgrave’s sisters Nancy and Ann. It is from the legendary David Crockett. Registered in 1822, it reads in part, “I David Crockett Bot at Thomas Musgrave sale at the Instant of J. Bourelly (?) two Beeds [beds] and furniture and all his household furniture and one sow and pigs and one cow and calf which I give with my own fees will will [sic] until Nancy and Ann Musgrave.” Bennett had come into court April 1, 1822 and in part declared, “I Bennett Musgrave… in consideration of the natural love and affection which I have for my much esteemed Sisters Nancy and Anny Musgrave… and also for divers other good causes… do give, grant and confirm unto the said Nancy and Anny one cow and calf, 3 yearlins and Eleven head of hogs… (his mark) Witnesses: Nathan McClendon and Samuel McKeny (his mark).[7]

Nathan was thus in Lawrence Co TN as early as 1818 and certainly in 1822. In the 1830 census, his entry reads: Lawrence Co TN, p 312, Nathan J[?] McLendon [almost illegible]: 010100001/ 0010001; the older couple may be a duplicate entry for Bryan but is unknown.

Jonathan Morgan (1795-1881) from Lawrence Co TN was married to Jane Venable in 1819; their bondsman was Nathan McClendon.[8]

No further records are found in the county for Bryant McClendon, but Nathan signed a very significant bond, with John A Hail and James P Crawford in 1827, Lawrence Co TN. This is a definite connection between James W Alvis’s first cousin, John A Hail, his brother-in-law, James P Crawford, who married Jenny Alvis in 1822, and the man who may have been his wife, Leatha Pulliam’s grandfather or uncle[9]:

Lawrence County, Tennessee 1st January 1827

Know all men by these presents, that we John A. Hail & James P. Crawford, Nathan McLendon and D.H. Stockton[10] all of the county of Lawrence and state of Tennessee are held and firmly bound unto his excellency or to his successors in office, or to his or their assigns, to which payment well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals, and dated this first day of January 1827.

The condition of the above obligation is such, that whereas the above bond John A. Hale and James P. Crawford has been appointed executors to the last will and testament of James E. Hail deceased. Now if the said Hail and Crawford shall well and truly execute the said will, by paying all the just debts of the said deceased and pay the legacies of the estate to such person or person to whom the same may be due, and shall make, or cause to be made, a true and perfect inventory of said estate, and make return thereof to this county, within th etime prescribed by law-than the above obligation to be void, otherwise to remain in full force and virture.

JOHN A. HAIL SEAL

JAMES P. CRAWFORD SEAL

N. MCLENDON SEAL

D. H. STOCKTON SEAL

Finding the three names together was exciting since it clearly linked my ancestor, James Woodford Alvis, known to be a son of Shadrach and Nancy (Hail) Alvis, and his wife Leatha Merrick Pulliam, presumed to be a daughter of Alsey and Frances (McClendon) Pulliam, to the presumed parents and now to the McClendons in Lawrence Co TN.

Bryant may have been a son of the Bryant McClendon who was on Jury Lists, in Camden Co SC 1778-1779. There was a Bryant McClendon in Orangeburgh SC, 1790: 1/0/0. There was also a Lewis McClendon in Camden Dist SC, 1790.

But more likely, Ezekiel McClendon of Anson Co NC had a son Bryan the right age to be the Lawrence County man.

[4] But I doubt he was this man: Selected Records Submitted by Karen Mouton at Email: mouton@usunwired.net, BRIAN MCLENDON-BOZE KITCHENS: This indenture made this 8th day of December 1795 between Bryan McLendon of the County of Warren and State of Georgia of the one part, and William Kitchen of the other part, of the same county—Witnesseth for and in consideration of the sum of Twenty Pounds, in hand paid by the said William Kitchens, the reciept whereof is hereby acknowledged he the said Brian McLendon have given, granted, bargained and sold, and by these presents doth give, grant, bargain, sell, release and confirm unto the said William Kitchen his heirs and assigns forever, a certain tract, or parcel of land, containing ninety five acres, being part of a Tract lying and being on the waters of Rocky Comfort in the said county, beginning at a water oak on the creek, runing on ____s line to a pine x on Booze Kitchens line, thence on that line to the Branch, thence with the Branch to Rock Comfort, thence with Rock Comfort to the beginning x. Together with all and singular the Houses, buildings, orchards, woods and underwoods whatsoever thereunto belonging, or in anywise appertaining, and all the Interest, claim & demand of the said Brian McLendon, to the said Tract of Land & promises hereby conveyed, do have and to hold, the above Tract of land with the appertainances hereby conveyed, unto the said William Kitchens his heirs and assigns forever, the only proper use and behoof of him the said Wm Kitchens, and to no other use or purpose whatsoever; and the said Brian McLendon for himself, his heirs and assigns and every other person or persons will warrant and forever defend by these presents—In witness whereof of the said McLendon have hereunto set his hand and seal, the day and date above written

Signed Sealed and delivered McLendon in the presence of J Grizard James Raley

Georgia Warren County } This day came Joseph Grizzard before me and he being duly sworn of the Holy Gospel of God, on his oath saith, that he saw Brian McClendon sign and deliver the within Deed, for the within mentioned p____, to the within mentioned Kitchings, also he further saith that he saw James Raley assign his name as a witness with himself. Sworn & subscribed to J___ Grizzard before m this 6th May 1808 Joeday Newsom J. J. C.

Nathan McClendon b.1770 d.1829 Lawrence Co., Tenn. was my 3rd great grandfather. We have not been able to find proof of his place of birth, but believe it was North Carolina. His son, Nathan was my Great-great grandfather. His son, John Wesley McClendon was born in Pulaski, Tenn. and married Frances Matilda Gower. They moved to Texas with several families of their Gower/McClendon kin and settled in Bell County near the Lampasas River. Many of their descendents still remain in the area. I would love to know where they originated. Family lore has always maintained that the McClendons were Scots and the Gowers were English or Irish. My ancestor, Nicholas Gower was a Methodist minister near Pulaski and is buried there. Would love to correspond by e-mail. Gago442@aol.com. Sincerely, Zoanna Curry

Zoanna,
I am thrilled to hear from you. This is the first connection to the Lawrence County, Tennessee, McClendons I have ever received. My ancestor, Frances McClendon, was born in North Carolina, and resided with her husband, Alsey Pulliam, in Tennessee, Illinois, Missouri, and, after his death, in Texas, where she died. I am speculating that she was a daughter of either Bryan/Bryant or Nathan McClendon, since they were in the same county where Frances’s daughter, Luvina/Leatha Merrick Pulliam, was married in 1827.
Frances (McClendon) Pulliam died in Collin Co TX.
Kathy

Jonathan Morgan (1795 – 1881) from Lawrence County Tn was married to Jane Venable in 1819 their bondsman was Nathan McClendon. Jonathan and Jane ended up in Newton Co Missouri. Do you have any information on Jonathan Morgan or Jane Venable?
Thanks
Fern

I’m sorry, but I haven’t heard those names before. Every little scrap of information I have for the Lawrence Co TN McClendons is at this blog. I will add this fact. Do you have a copy of the marriage bond, or did you find this out from an index? I’d love a scanned copy of your source, whatever it is.
Kathy